Golden girls for Belgrade

Golden girls for Belgrade

22 February 2017

TWO Co Down Olympians were crowned queens of the boards at the weekend.

Portaferry’s Ciara Mageean and Newcastle’s Kerry O’Flaherty landed titles at the Irish Indoor Championships in Dublin.

Running a day after the death of her grandmother, 24 year-old Mageean held off Fionnuala McCormack and Olympic steeplechaser Michelle Finn for gold in the 3000m and O’Flaherty was a convincing winner of the women’s 1500m in 4:20.86.

Both local girls, who competed for Ireland in last year’s Rio Olympics, had one eye next month’s European Indoor Championships in Belgrade and used the occasion as perfect preparation for the more exacting challenges which lie ahead.

At the halfway mark of the 3000m Mageean and fellow Rio Olympian Michelle Finn were well clear of the field which included European cross country champion Fionnuala McCormack. 

Ciara then took command and broke clear for an easy win in 9 minutes 8 .83 seconds. She was followed by Finn (9.12.61) and McCormack.

Despite the victory, Mageean said she would be concentrating on the 1500m distance.

“The 1500m at the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade is my focus,” said Mageean, who was suffering from a cold.

“That’s what I am looking forward to. Getting over there and running good and fast.”

“The time is not overly fast. I was nervous going into the race because it was a very good field with all the girls there.

“Fionnuala and Michelle are good hard competitors, especially over 3000m. I am happy to come away with the win and the title.”

Mageean added: ”It’s a good confidence boost and I still have a good two hard weeks in the lead up to Belgrade, so I will be focused on being healthy and getting rid of this head cold.”

Meanwhile, O’Flaherty, who qualified for Belgrade earlier in the week when she recorded a 1500m PB of 4.14.63, continued her good form in Dublin with an easy five-second winning margin of 4 mins 20.86 secs from UCD’s Ellie Hartnett.

“I’m delighted to win a senior championship,” she said. “I went out for a 70-second 400 metres and I was able to keep that pace.

“I am absolutely delighted to top off a great week of racing with a national 1500m indoor title. I am going to Belgrade full of confidence and will look to do my best.”